Case Manager and Engagement Specialist for Foster Youth

WestCoast Children’s Clinic, located in Oakland, California, is a non-profit community psychology clinic that provides mental health services to Bay Area children, youth and families. Working at WestCoast Children’s Clinic means being part of an organization that is client-centered, trauma-informed, collaborative, and committed to justice and equity. 

Position Details 

Title: Case Manager and Engagement Specialist 

Classification: Regular Full Time (1.0 FTE), Non-exempt (Hourly)

Location: Oakland, CA / Hybrid (availability to provide client services in-person and complete documentation remotely)

Regular Work Schedule: Full time, M-F 

Compensation:

• $31.25 per hour ($34.37 per hour for qualified bilingual Spanish candidates)

The Case Manager and Engagement Specialist empowers foster and transition-age youth (TAY) through clinical case management and outreach across two core programs:

• STAT (Screening, Stabilization and Transition): Supports children and young adults (ages 0–21) as they navigate the profound emotional and life impacts of family separation and entering or changing foster care placement. Through mobile, trauma-informed screening, care coordination, and immediate stabilization, STAT ensures youth feel heard, safe, and supported during initial entry into child welfare and throughout placement changes.

• Project AWOL: Provides persistent outreach, trauma psychoeducation, and intensive case management to build trust and restore stability for youth experiencing placement disruptions or returning from missing status.

The Case Manager and Engagement Specialist makes a lasting impact by establishing trust with youth advocating for their safety, and connecting young people to mental healthcare, stable placements, education, legal support, and community networks. The Case Manager and Engagement Specialist ensures each youth has the resources and encouragement needed to heal and succeed.

How the Case Manager and Engagement Specialist makes an impact:

• Delivers individualized clinical case management, rehabilitation, and flexible care via community outreach and telehealth.
• Supports youth experiencing runaway behavior or placement disruptions, advocating for safe transitions into foster, relative, or group homes.
• Provides targeted early interventions to stabilize crises (STAT), address placement challenges, and maintain ongoing relational care (Project AWOL).
• Empowers youth to engage in care planning while connecting them to mental health services, mentorship, and vital community resources.
• Bridges service gaps for youth missing from care to address their physical, emotional, and safety needs.
• Assists youth with navigating Medi-Cal coverage to ensure continuous, uninterrupted healthcare and therapeutic support.
• Offers trauma psycho-education and advocacy to help youth process their experiences and build self-advocacy skills.
• Guides youth through delicate placement transitions with emotional and practical support.
• Maintains timely Medi-Cal/ACBHCS/DCFS compliance, meets service hour requirements, and completes ongoing professional training.

Key Qualifications:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with systems involved youth (required).
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, or a related field (preferred).
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (preferred).
• Experience providing case management and rehabilitation services.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse adolescents with complex trauma, dual diagnosis, high mental health needs, or experience as sexually exploited minors.
• Knowledge of Alameda and SF County community resources for TAY youth.
• Experience delivering services in diverse community settings (homes, schools, neighborhoods, partner agencies).
• Ability to travel by car to meet with clients, generally within a 90 mile radius of WCC's Oakland office. Alternative forms of transportation may be accommodated based on the needs of the program and clients. Employees must have a clean CA DMV record. When driving for WCC, current vehicle insurance is required.

Competencies:

• Case Management Skill - Comprehensive assessment, crisis intervention, high-quality documentation, and ethical, legal practice while utilizing supervision effectively.
• Cultural Humility - Knowledge of issues of race, class and ethnicity.
• Efficiency and Time Management - Organized and able to prioritize tasks, manage complex caseloads, and meet deadlines efficiently.
• Collaboration and Team Functioning - Ability to work both independently and seamlessly within multidisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive client care.
• Medi-Cal Billing & Compliance - Proficient in, or ability to learn Medi-Cal reimbursement procedures, documentation standards, and billing practices.

Why work here?

-Be part of a compassionate, driven team that is social justice-focused: We have Staff Affinity Groups such as Staff of Color, LGBTQ+, Equity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, and more!

-Make a difference for the Bay Area’s most vulnerable populations: We serve hundreds of vulnerable kids and their families each year to create positive changes in their lives!

-Access a growth-oriented learning community: As a Joint Commission Accredited agency, we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care, and offer extensive clinical trainings and seminars led by field experts. 

Benefits:

• Employer-paid Medical Benefits for Employees 
  • 100% employer-paid dental and vision 
  • Dependent medical, dental and vision (50% employer-paid) 
• Medical and Dependent Care FSA and commuter plans
• 100% employer-paid life insurance long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary accident, term life and hospital indemnity insurance 
• 403(b) and ROTH retirement plan options, employer contribution targeted at 7.5% after first year of employment
• Quarterly (5-10%) and annual incentive compensation (10%)
• Three weeks PTO during the first year of employment, 4+ weeks PTO with additional years of service
• 12 paid holidays plus one paid floating holiday per year
• 4 paid self-care days per year
• Wellness stipend ($100.00 per month)
• Professional development stipend and CEUs for trainings
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Join us and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families in the Bay Area.  

WCC is passionate about leading and encouraging open conversations around race, gender, power, and privilege and how these impact community mental health. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diminishing the influence of privilege and discrimination in our field and our workplace, whether due to differences concerning age, citizenship, color, disability, marital or parental status, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.